Agent Harris scowled at his subordinate. “Send that kid back to whatever school he came from.” Used to be the outfit held to regular standards. Now they sent these experts. None of ‘em worth their fat fees and now a green kid.

Paul straddled the old wooden chair backwards and gazed across the desk until the big man finally blinked. “I knew you’d say that, Stan. He’s young. But I checked—he’s a legitimate contractor. And this is interesting: He formed his own startup company while he was still in high school. Sold it for a fortune—before he graduated. So he’s not here for the paycheck.”

“What kinda company? Lemonade stands?”

Paul grinned. “Some sort of mobile app. He skipped college and went straight for his doctorate. A degree I never heard of. Higher math, I suppose. Anyway, he’s already working on his dissertation.”

“So we’re helping this punk kid get his Ph.D. too early?”

Paul shrugged. “Does it matter? Stan, he’s cracked some cases for the bureau using his own methods. I know it’s way out of the box but maybe that’s what we need.”

“What’s his name?”

“Nathan Boldt.”

* * *

The lid of the footlocker opened and two men hauled Frank to his feet.

Bruno, the burly one, indicated the door at the back of the room. “There’s a shower and clean set of clothes there. Gimme your stuff and I’ll get it cleaned, okay?”

Frank forced his knees to lock and arched his back. He said nothing. When he entered the bathroom, he found a neatly pressed Air Force uniform. It had all the same medals as his own—could be his if it wasn’t so new.

He stripped and tossed his soiled clothes out the door then cranked the shower to full cold.

* * *

Desi took the elevator to the office at the Aon Building. The lettering on the door read Ivan and Associates.

A culture bud of a secretary greeted him with a perky good morning.

“I’m Desi Grasso—got an appointment with Anthony Dmitri.”

“Yes, Mr. Grasso. Mr. Dmitri will see you momentarily. Please have a seat. Can I get you something? Coffee, tea?”

“Just water, thanks.” Desi sat in a plush chair and selected a magazine. A Playboy. It sat right out in the open. Not the usual waiting room and the view of the city below was magnificent. He opened the centerfold.